November 21, 2022

 

One of the most frequent questions asked by dental patients is how to choose the best toothbrush. A study by the Oral Health Foundation affirms that using an electric toothbrush helps people of all ages have healthier gums and less tooth decay. An electric model also helps you keep your natural teeth for longer in your lifetime. But if an electric type is too pricey for you or impractical in some situations, a manual toothbrush can still get the job done well. You just need to know what to look for, when making your shopping decision.

What Matters Most When Choosing Your Manual Toothbrush

Below are three key factors to consider when weighing your best toothbrush options.

Soft Bristles

It is very important to choose a model with soft bristles, not medium or hard. This is true whether you want an electric toothbrush or a manual one.

Both medium and hard bristles are abrasive on your teeth and gums. These bristles can contribute to gum recession. They also leave microabrasions in tooth enamel, making your teeth more likely to suffer cavities and sensitivity. If you use a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush, you may notice your gums bleed more often while brushing, too.

Quality Bristles

In many ways when shopping for a new manual toothbrush, quality counts. Cost cuts in the manufacturing process made by unrecognized brands or those with really low price tags typically reflect poor quality bristles. After all, when buying a toothbrush you are essentially paying for the bristles.

Cheaper materials or operational shortcuts often result in uneven bristle edges or even sharp bristles. Low quality bristles can damage your teeth and gums, as mentioned in the section above.

Frequent Replacement

You need to replace your manual toothbrush often. The typical timeframe for replacement is every three months. Some people choose to replace their toothbrushes more frequently, driven by when the bristles soften too much, bend, crush or become frayed. As bristles break down, they do not effectively clean your teeth. You should also replace your toothbrush after you are sick.

Because you need to replace your manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush heads every three months, you should consider this when making your ultimate buying decision. This means that a costly brush may not make sense, if it does not offer benefits beyond a more economical option.

Should I Look for the ADA Seal on My Manual Toothbrush?

The American Dental Association (ADA) is the utmost authority on dentistry and oral health in the United States. Buying a manual toothbrush endorsed by the ADA and showing their Seal of Acceptance is a good way to know you are making a wise choice.

It is also important to know that endorsement by the ADA is a costly process in which not all manufacturers choose to participate. In fact, many of the top brands do not consider this endorsement important because these brands are already trusted by consumers. But if you see the ADA seal on manual toothbrush packaging for a brand you are unfamiliar with, you can know it is a good option for your teeth. This seal means the brush is “free of sharp edges and endpoints” that can damage your teeth and gums.

Three Manual Toothbrush Recommendations

Your dentist is always your best resource for manual toothbrush recommendations. Every dentist has their own preferred options for patients. They always consider bristle softness, brush quality and frequent replacement when helping you make your choice. They can also lead you the right direction for quicker decision-making, given the extremely broad field of options we all face today.

Three great manual toothbrush options you may not have considered before include:

Radius Source

The Radius Source manual toothbrush is a great option when you want the convenience of subscription-based brush replacement and delivery right to your door. The Source brush features a reusable handle and replacement heads with soft and super soft flossing bristle options.

If you have a history of brushing too hard and damaging your gums, this brush’s wide massaging head spreads your pressure force over the wider surface area. This means less force exerted on your teeth and gums. The bristles are made of soft vegetable nylon, also minimizing risk of gum bleeding, sensitivity and receding.

Because you reuse the handle and replace only the heads, you also pass on 93 percent less consumer waste.

Oral-B Cross Action Manual Toothbrush

If you prefer to buy your manual toothbrush in your local drugstore or grocery market, Oral-B is a widely accessible brand. A longtime dentist’s favorite is the Oral-B Cross Action handed out to new patients in many dental practices. This no-frills toothbrush costs less than three dollars throughout North Carolina, making it a great budget-friendly choice. You can also find them available in multi-packs for greater cost savings.

Nimbus Extra Soft Manual Toothbrush

In an answer to his patients’ questions about finding the best manual toothbrush, a periodontist designed his own product line. The Nimbus Extra Soft manual toothbrush is designed to clean between teeth. Thanks to its micro-fine, super soft bristles, this brush line works especially well for individuals with gum recession or gingivitis.

Talk to Your Dentist about the Best Manual Toothbrush for Your Smile

If you are unsure about which manual toothbrush suits your needs best, you only need to ask your Carolina Dental Arts dentist or dental hygienist at your next visit. Schedule your appointment today in our Durham, Raleigh or Goldsboro locations of Carolina Dental Arts.

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December 17, 2021

How the Keto Diet Affects Your Oral Health

The keto diet is one of the most popular ways to lose weight today. However, it is very important to know, how trendy diets can affect your oral health. This is true for another quick weight-loss method, the lemonade diet. That one involves drinking highly acidic “lemonade” made with freshly squeezed citrus and sugary maple syrup. So, how does the diet affect your mouth?

The Keto Diet and Your Oral Health

The keto diet is one that consists mainly of eating lots of fats and proteins. For example, you would eat a lot of meat, fish, cheese, and nuts. This plan usually allows you to eat low-carbohydrate vegetables as well. One thing notably absent from this type of weight loss plan is sugar. Although this is great for your body and oral health, the diet does have its side effects. One such negative effect is foul-smelling breath.

Keto breath can range from not-so-bad to highly offensive. On the lighter end of this spectrum, your keto breath smells fruity or like acetone. But if there is a lot of bacteria in your mouth, you can experience the dreaded dragon breath. This very offensive odor is a sure sign that the diet is working for you. The bad part is, if you find yourself with dragon keto breath, no one will want to be around you.

In fact, your own keto breath can even be offensive to you. It is alarming to many dieters and they often feel concerned about their oral health.

Can I prevent keto breath?

keto diet oral health

The good news is the keto breath does not last the duration of your diet. It is a temporary problem. We are very glad about that. The “keto breath” is an effect of your liver producing more ketones than your body uses. As your body changes it starts burning these ketones as brain and muscle fuel. That is when the bad breath diminishes. The process of getting to keto-adapted and shedding your dragon breath typically takes one to four weeks.

How the Keto Diet Affects Your Mouth

The best ways to prevent keto breath are basically just good daily practices. We listed some helpful tips below to add to your routine if not doing already:

Drink lots of water to prevent bacteria build-up in your mouth
Maintain a good daily oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice daily and flossing
Use alcohol-free mouthwash for freshness without drying your mouth
Chew sugar-free gum after meals and to freshen your breath
The Keto Diet, Keto Breath, and Your Oral Health

One of the best tips is, when starting a diet plan, take things slow. Try slowly changing your diet over time, cutting carbs over an extended period. This enables your body to naturally adjust without releasing too many ketones at once. As a result, you will likely not experience keto breath.

Throughout your diet and everyday life, it is always best to maintain a low-stress level. Stress dries your mouth by reducing saliva flow. It also slows the digestion of proteins. If you feel anxious, you are more likely to experience acid reflux, as well. All of these stress-related issues lead to bad breath.

Also as you lose weight on the keto diet, remember that your health of your mouth is a priority, just like your physical health. If you have any concerns about starting a diet and the effect it can have on your oral health, schedule a visit with your dentist at Carolina Dental Arts in Raleigh or Goldsboro, North Carolina.

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October 23, 2021

Can You Over Brush Teeth?

Every time you visit, your dentist probably asks you about your toothbrushing. They generally reinforce that you need to brush your teeth twice per day. Maybe you already follow this rule. Or maybe you even brush more often like after every meal. But did you know that you can over brush teeth and that overbrushing can damage your teeth and gums? Yes, when it comes to brushing, there can be too much of a good thing.

Damage When You Over Brush Teeth

Overbrushing teeth is not just brushing them too often. It is also an issue of how you use your toothbrush each time. Using too much pressure or vigor can actually cause dental problems. These problems include dental abrasion, gum recession and tooth sensitivity.

Dental Abrasion

Dental abrasion is a process that works much like rubbing sandpaper on your teeth. By using too much pressure or vigor when brushing, you are actually damaging the tooth structure. What you think is a good brushing practice to get your teeth super clean can be doing some harm. This method when you over brush teeth wears away your tooth enamel, then damages deeper parts of your teeth, the soft dentin and cementum.

You can even see abrasion in your mouth, if you have caused this damage and over brush teeth. Look for these signs like worn areas on teeth, shiny spots or yellow-brown spots near your gumline. Also look for v-shaped indentions called notching in your teeth at the gumline.

Gum Recession When You Over Brush Teeth

If you over brush teeth, you can also cause your gums to pull back from your teeth. This is gum recession. It exposes the soft cementum of your tooth root, a part of your tooth that does not have the protective enamel. This area is particularly vulnerable to decay. It is also easily made sensitive and painful such as when you eat sweet, hot or cold foods.

Tooth Sensitivity from Overbrushing Teeth

When you over brush teeth, you can wear away your tooth enamel. Enamel is your tooth’s biggest natural asset in preventing tooth decay and other dental problems. Once you lose your enamel, you cannot get it back. Also once it is gone, the nerve endings in your dentin are left exposed. This causes tooth sensitivity and pain when you try to eat cold, hot or sweet foods.

Do You Over Brush Teeth?

If you over brush teeth and damage them or your gums, you need to see your dentist. This dental abrasion and gum recession can lead to tooth decay if left untreated. As a result, you can even lose some of your teeth.

There are treatments available to protect your dental health if you over brush teeth. These treatments include fluoride varnish for teeth strengthening. Your dentist can also use bonding to cover the exposed or damaged area with a tooth-colored filling. Veneers are another option when you have damage from overbrushing.

If you damage your gums and cause gum recession, treatment is more complex. Gums do not always come back. This can mean you need gum grafting surgery to replace your lost gum tissue. This procedure may also help protect your cementum.

How to Not Over Brush Teeth

There are ways to ensure you do not over brush teeth. You simply have to use good oral hygiene habits. These habits include:

  • Using a soft bristled toothbrush
  • Using toothpaste rich in calcium and fluoride
  • Avoiding abrasive toothpastes
  • Using proper brushing technique
  • Avoiding brushing immediately after eating, instead waiting at least an hour
  • Drinking water or chewing sugarless gum after meals and while waiting to brush
  • Not opening bottles with your teeth, biting fingernails or holding items like nails or pins between your teeth
  • Avoiding lip or tongue piercings that can damage tooth enamel

To learn more about proper brushing technique and how to ensure you do not over brush teeth, visit your dentist at Carolina Dental Arts in Raleigh or Goldsboro, NC. Ask your dental professionals if you show signs of overbrushing. Schedule your next dental exam visit today.

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July 4, 2021

If you find blood on your toothbrush or dental floss after cleaning your teeth, don’t panic. A little bit of blood is not always a sign of a problem like gingivitis. Of course, anytime you notice changes in your oral health like bleeding gums, it is important to see your Raleigh or Goldsboro, NC dentist. Such signs can indicate a treatable problem when caught early. Your Carolina Dental Arts dentist also has the ability to find signs of issues early, well before they cause discomfort or bleeding.

What Causes Bleeding Gums?

There are multiple reasons why your gums may bleed. We explore some of those reasons for bleeding gums, below.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is often a cause of bleeding gums. Not brushing or flossing your teeth as you should can enable bacteria to build up in your mouth. This inflames your gums, making them red. It also makes them more prone to bleeding when you brush or floss. Although bleeding does not always mean you have gum disease, poor oral hygiene is a definite cause of gingivitis and its more advanced form, periodontitis.

Brushing or Flossing Too Hard

When you brush or floss your teeth, do you apply too much pressure? Do you use a hard bristled toothbrush? Switching to a soft bristled toothbrush is an immediate change you can make to improve your gum health and reduce potential for bleeding gums. A soft bristled brush is sufficient for cleaning your teeth. It can help reduce your potential for gum inflammation and also receding gums.

Gingivitis

One of the most common symptoms of gingivitis is bleeding gums. Also called gum disease, this condition occurs because of plaque building along your gum line. With the increased bacteria, the gums become irritated, red and swollen. However, gingivitis is treatable by your dentist and through improved oral hygiene.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease. This long-term oral health problem can damage the tissues and bones in your mouth. Your gums can become very irritated and pull away from teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss. This condition also causes bleeding gums from the irritation.

Pregnancy

Almost half of pregnant women develop a condition of bleeding gums called pregnancy gingivitis. This type of gum disease occurs because of the hormonal changes of pregnancy. Increased progesterone in your body causes greater sensitivity to plaque. At the same time, it enables bacteria to more easily grow on your teeth and gums. If you notice blood on your toothbrush or your gums appear red and irritated, schedule a visit with Carolina Dental Arts.

Medications

Some medications increase the potential for bleeding gums. Prescribed blood thinners and aspirin are two such medications. This is why it is always important to inform your dentist of medication changes and those you take on a regular basis.

How to Get Rid of Bleeding Gums

The best tips for improving your gum health and reducing your potential for bleeding gums include:

  • Brushing your teeth twice daily
  • Using a fluoride toothpaste
  • Flossing daily
  • Visiting your dentist every six months or as recommended
  • Rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide after brushing, spitting it out after rinsing
  • Increasing your intake of vitamins C and K

Schedule a Visit with Carolina Dental Arts

Are Bleeding Gums Normal?

If you have bleeding gums and the condition does not improve within a week with good oral hygiene, call Carolina Dental Arts. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to find signs of underlying problems. To remove built-up plaque and tartar from your teeth and along your gum line, they can also provide a deep cleaning.

With locations in Goldsboro and Raleigh, NC, Carolina Dental Arts provides all of the dental services you need to maintain a healthy and gorgeous smile. Schedule your next Raleigh Dentist or Goldsboro Dentist visit today.

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Kathy Anders
Kathy Anders
2022-10-18
Excellent staff and love my dentist and the ladies in the office! Mrs. Patsy is my favorite and Liz is second. They are all good at what they do. Keeping my smile and my teeth looking their best! Awesome as always!
Marian Malone
Marian Malone
2022-10-10
Ashley who was my hygienist today did such a wonderful job on my teeth. I have gone in for cleanings before with other dentists in the area of Goldsboro and always come out with yellow teeth still.. I did not have any any kind of whitening done she just cleaned my teeth and I felt so good afterward .
Julian Edwards
Julian Edwards
2022-10-10
Awesome
Rodney Mealing Jr
Rodney Mealing Jr
2022-10-04
The Staff and service were great. From scheduling to dental work done, everything went easy. Felt relaxed, would recommend their services.
Tisse Martin (Tisse)
Tisse Martin (Tisse)
2022-09-29
Carolina Dental Arts staff & services are amazing. I called in as a new patient. They got me in and took care of my tooth the same day, with little waiting time. I was truly impressed. Thanks again CDA, see you guys soon ! 🤗
Janai Donyele
Janai Donyele
2022-09-29
My name is Sharonda. And I have been going to Carolina Dental for years, this is my family, whom I love so much. So kind very considerate, and patient. God bless everyone that works there. Love u guys.
Ellen Barlow
Ellen Barlow
2022-09-29
Friendly staff and Dr Taylor!! They really ease your anxiety!




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